Text-Based Game Tutorials Don't Work

Creating a fun and engaging game tutorial is only half the battle. If players can't quickly understand how to play, they'll likely abandon your game before experiencing all the content you've created.
Many beginner game developers skip proper game tutorials or rely on text-heavy instructions, not realizing they're setting their games up for failure.

When faced with a wall of text explaining controls or mechanics, most players simply won't read it. According to a Nielsen Norman Group study, users typically read only about 20-28% of the words on a webpage. This percentage drops even lower in gaming contexts where players expect action, not reading assignments.

Let's explore why text-based game tutorials often fail and how you can create an effective onboarding experience that keeps players engaged from the first minute:

Why text-based tutorials don't work

Think about your own behavior: when you download a new game, do you carefully read every instruction, or do you want to start playing immediately?
Most players share this impatience.

Text-heavy game tutorials fail for 3 simple fundamental reasons:

1. Cognitive overload:

The human brain can only process so much information at once. A psychology theory called "Cognitive Load Theory" explains that working memory (the one that we use to retain small amounts of information to complete a task) has limited capacity:

"Working memory is only able to hold a small amount of information at any one time and that instructional methods should avoid overloading it in order to maximise learning."

Translation: learning supports must be short and sweet. Otherwise a human won't get them.
Overwhelming players with multiple instructions before they've had a chance to apply any of them, creates cognitive overload.

2. Passive vs. active learning:

Reading about how to do something is passive learning, which has significantly lower engagements than active learning. Educational psychologist Edgar Dale's "Cone of Experience" model suggests that people are mode likely to remember what they experienced, felt or practiced.

As you see, the more physically and emotionally engaging the material is (bottom of the cone), the better.

This might be because physical interaction with concepts improves "absorption" rather than having to check that info every time.
For game tutorials, allow players actually press buttons and see immediate results rather than telling them what will happen if they press those buttons.

3. Motivation mismatch

When designing any experience is important to match expectations with reality. One of the biggest sources of disappointment comes from the dissonance of these 2: players download games to play, not to read.
When the first experience contradicts their expectations, it creates immediate friction.

Knowledge must be kinesthetic, not theoretical.

From tutorials to onboarding: a mindset shift

The term "tutorial" often carries negative connotations for players... it suggests a boring, mandatory session before the "real game" begins. Instead, think of this process as "onboarding": a seamless introduction to your game's world and mechanics that feels like part of the experience itself.

User experience researchers at Nielsen Norman Group define good onboarding as "gradually revealing complexity while providing immediate value." This approach keeps players engaged while building their skills progressively.

In this video, Mark Brown perfectly points to how some Half-Life 2 used a progressive "onboarding" approach instead of tossing the player in a mandatory tutorial scene.

Effective onboarding:

• Introduces mechanics organically through gameplay
• Provides immediate opportunities to apply new knowledge
• Integrates learning into the narrative
• Rewards experimentation and discovery
• Scales in complexity as player skills develop

Progressive learning vs information dumps

The human brain learns best through spaced repetition and progressive complexity, not through single exposure to multiple concepts. Information is rapidly forgotten unless it's reinforced through practice.
Instead of front-loading all instructions, introduce mechanics one at a time, allowing players to master each before moving to the next.

Progressive disclosure of features in digital interfaces leads to higher user satisfaction and better task completion rates compared to presenting all features at once. This is true for onboarding, but we also talk about this notion for UI progressive disclosure.

Now that we understand why traditional tutorials often fail, let's explore some practical solutions you can implement in your GDevelop games:

1. Contextual teaching

Introduce mechanics exactly when players need them, not before. If your game has a jump mechanic, create a situation where jumping is necessary, then provide a simple, contextual prompt.
For example, instead of explaining "Press Space to jump over obstacles" at the start of the game, wait until the player encounters their first gap, then briefly show a visible and comprehensible "Space = Jump" UI indicator.

2. Immediate application

After introducing a mechanic, immediately provide an opportunity to use it in a safe environment. This creates a feedback loop that reinforces learning through practice. Concrete experience followed by reflexion and execution is crucial for effective learning. In game terms, this could mean letting players try a mechanic and see the results before moving on.

3. Narrative integration

Embed tutorial elements within your story rather than separating them. This maintains immersion while teaching necessary skills.
For example, if your character needs to learn to use a new weapon, have this happen as part of the story. Perhaps they find it and a mentor character offers brief guidance, or they discover it during a moment of need.

4. Layered complexity

Start with core mechanics and gradually introduce complexity. This "layering" approach allows players to build confidence with basic actions before combining them into more complex maneuvers.
The theory of " Zone of Proximal Development" suggests that learning is most effective when new challenges are slightly beyond current ability but still achievable with effort. Design your progression to gradually increase difficulty as skills improve.

5. Feedback loops

Provide clear, immediate feedback when players perform actions correctly or incorrectly. This reinforces learning and guides improvement.
Immediate feedback significantly enhances learning rates. In games, this can be visual effects, sound cues, or character reactions that clearly communicate success or failure.
You can learn more about this principle in Chapter 5: "Designing for humans that use machines" of our UI/UX Essentials Course.

Here are some ideas on how to implement these principles in your GDevelop games:

• For a platformer game:
  Instead of explaining all controls upfront, start with basic movement. Create a simple path that naturally encourages players to move right. Once they've mastered movement, introduce a small gap that requires jumping. Show a brief jump prompt only when they approach the gap.
• For a puzzle game:
  Rather than explaining all possible interactions, design the first level to require only one simple mechanic. Once players solve it, introduce a new element in the second level that builds on what they've already learned.
• For an action game:
  Begin with basic attacks in a low-threat environment. As players demonstrate mastery, gradually introduce defensive moves, special abilities, and combinations through scenarios that naturally call for these actions. This is not only better for learning how to play, but will keep players interested as new mechanics unveil as they move foreward.

Measuring success

How do you know if your onboarding is effective? You can look for these metrics:

• Session length: Longer play sessions
• Reduced bounce rate: Fewer players abandoning the game in the first few minutes
• Tutorial completion: Higher percentage of players completing the introduction (first X minutes of your game)

GDevelop's analytics integration can help you track these metrics and identify where players might be getting stuck or confused.

The best tutorial is one the player doesn't even realize they're experiencing.
Effective game onboarding is about creating an experience that naturally teaches players how to play through thoughtful design and progressive challenges. This will never be achieved with a wall of text.

Shift from passive, text-heavy tutorials to active, integrated learning experiences. You'll not only reduce your bounce rate but also create a more engaging and satisfying first impression for your players.

Your game's first minute is crucial. Design it with the same care and attention you give to your most exciting gameplay moments, and you'll significantly increase the chances that players will stick around.